Police Beat

Following up on a report of activity at a vacant commercial building, Anacortes Police sent one person to county jail in connection with meth and heroin residue found in his backpack. He and a woman were also charged with trespassing.

Anacortes Police Officers were dispatched to a vacant commercial building in Anacortes per the report of someone climbing in and out of a basement window. Officers entered the building and contacted four individuals—two adults males, an adult female, and one juvenile male. After several minutes, the four subjects were placed under arrest for trespassing. Once in Police custody, the female began to struggle with the arresting officer and break free of him by walking away and not following verbal orders to stop. She was taken to county jail on Trespassing and Resisting Arrest charges. Further investigation revealed that a backpack belonging to one of the adult men contained what looked to be narcotics including a plastic baggie containing a spoon with burnt residue and an unused syringe. Two samples of residue tested positive for methamphetamine and heroin respectively. As a result of these findings, the male with the backpack was also charged with Violation of the Uniform Controlled Substance Act (VUCSA). Further investigation revealed that the subject had a Mount Vernon Municipal Court warrant for theft. He was taken to county jail and booked on charges of Trespassing and VUCSA in addition to his warrant. The other two males involved were released from the scene with Trespassing charges.

Here are some other cases Anacortes Police worked on this week.

Saturday, October 17

The 24 year-old male driver of an older model BMW was contacted on Oakes Avenue early Saturday morning after an APD Officer on patrol paced the vehicle traveling 8 mph over the speed limit in a 30 mph zone. The driver admitted to having a suspended license and the vehicle he was driving did not have required ignition interlock. He was placed under arrest and cited for Driving With License Suspended and Operating a Vehicle Without Ignition Interlock. He was later released from the scene.

An Anacortes Police Officer was dispatched to a domestic complaint on Saturday night on State Route 20. The officer contacted a woman in her vehicle, which was parked on the shoulder of the road. She reported that she and her husband had been in an argument at an Anacortes motel earlier in the evening and that when she attempted to leave the room, he threw her suitcase and pushed her multiple times. An Anacortes Police Sergeant also responded to the scene and contacted the man hiding behind a guardrail a short distance away. He was taken into custody on charges of Domestic Violence Assault and transported to the Skagit County Jail for booking.

Sunday, October 18

An Anacortes Police Officer on patrol on eastbound State Route 20 observed a Ford Explorer in the ditch with smoke coming from the hood. The officer approached the vehicle and observed a male, later determined to be a 24 year-old from Anacortes, sitting in the driver’s seat. The driver was conscious and stated that he had driven off the road. The man, who smelled of alcohol, attempted to get out of the vehicle, but was having trouble doing so and admitted to having a few beers earlier in the evening. The man refused voluntary roadside tests and a breath test and was placed under arrest for DUI, then transported to APD. At the station, the man provided two breath samples, with results of nearly three times the limit to legally operate a motor vehicle. The driver was cited for DUI and released from the station to a sober adult.

Tuesday, October 20

A local contractor contacted Police to report several hundred dollars’ worth of tools and construction supplies had been taken from a job site in W. Anacortes sometime in the previous several days. There are no suspects.

An Anacortes resident reported a vehicle prowl that had occurred approximately two months previous in which the prowler accessed the unlocked rear hatch of his SUV. A cooler, keychain, small change, and miscellaneous paperwork were taken from the vehicle. Due to the time lapse in reporting the incident, there was no evidence to process and there are no suspects.

A 19 year-old Anacortes woman was taken into custody and transported to the Skagit County Jail on Tuesday afternoon on Domestic Violence Assault charges. Police were called earlier in the day by a resident passerby who was asked to call Police to report a domestic dispute in progress. An officer responded to the reported address to investigate and spoke with a male who was scratched in several places on his body. Police later spoke with the involved female about her version of events and she was taken into custody based on the presence of visible injuries to the male.

Wednesday, October 21

An Anacortes Police Officer was dispatched to the 1000 block of 12th Street on Wednesday afternoon per the report of a motor vehicle accident in the area. The officer was told that there were no injuries, but the vehicles were partially blocking the roadway. Investigation on scene revealed that the driver of a white van had struck a parked box truck. The driver told Police that he was distracted by a bee in the cab of his van which caused him to swerve and strike the truck. The driver of the van was issued an infraction for Improper Lane Usage.

On Wednesday evening, Anacortes Police contacted the driver of a BMW near the intersection of M Avenue and 12th Street. The officer observed the vehicle stop at a red light, then proceed slowly into the intersection before the light changed to green. The 24 year-old male driver admitted to not having a valid license. He was taken into custody and cited for Driving With License Suspended 3rd Degree before being released at the scene.

A 27 year-old Anacortes man was booked and released on a warrant for Discharging Fireworks on Wednesday evening. Police were dispatched to a 29th Street residence per the report of two loud, intoxicated males. Investigation on scene revealed that nothing physical had occurred and the male subject with a warrant was arrested and transported to APD, then released at his home.

Friday, October 23

At approximately 4AM on Friday, an Anacortes Police Officer on patrol contacted the driver of a Ford pickup in the 2300 block of 15th Street for driving 50 mph in a posted 30 mph zone. The 55 year-old Eastsound man driving the vehicle was found to be driving without a valid license since June 29, 2014 for failure to appear on an unpaid ticket. The officer also determined that the man had an Anacortes Municipal Court warrant for possession of stolen property. The man was taken into custody and transported to the Anacortes Police Department. He was cited for driving with a suspended license, speeding, and booked and released on his warrant. He was released from the scene.